Blur pull out of the Big Day Out

Blur have pulled out of next years Big Day Out, accusing organisers of "constantly shifting goalposts" and letting them and their fans down.

The Britpop legends were booked as one of the headliners for the revived festival at Western Springs in Auckland on January 17.

They announced they were cancelling all Big Day Out appearances in a post on their Facebook page today.

It said: "Devastated to report that Blur won't be performing at BDO in 2014. It's a shock that it has come to this.

"Only 8 weeks to go, the band feels that with the constantly shifting goalposts and challenging conditions of the organisers, they can't let it drag on any longer and want to make this announcement, to be clear to Blur fans that they won't be there. We've done our very best to work with the organisers and considered every option to make it happen, but they've let us down and let everyone else down too."

Big Day Out chief executive Adam Zammit tweeted that he would announce a replacement for Blur "very soon".

Campbell Smith, the organiser for the New Zealand leg of the Big Day Out, said he was blindsided by the announcement.

In a message posted to Twitter this afternoon, he said he had "no idea" the band were thinking of pulling out of the event.

He would make a statement as soon as he found what "what happened and what will happen".

The Blur announcement a total surprise to me. I had no idea. As soon as I find out what happened and what will happen, I will advise.

The Big Day Out was canned in New Zealand after a sparsely attended show in 2012.

It was brought back this year with a new venue and a strong lineup for 2014, topped by Pearl Jam, Blur, Arcade Fire and Snoop Lion.

Blur's decision to pull out of the festival has left many fans disappointed and angry, with some saying they are no longer interested in going and calling for refunds.

So blur have pulled out of #BDO - SO glad I didn't get tickets now!

I hope refunds will be offered, this is a shambles @bigdayout #bdo

Big Day Out organisers have sold 20,000 early bird tickets to the festival at a cost of $165 each.

A further 30,000 tickets are on sale for $185 each.

- nzherald.co.nz